Japan's Series L0 prototype train will be operated by JR Tokai and capable to reach top speed of 500 km/h

On November 22, 2012, Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) unveiled its newest train, the Series L0 prototype that will carry passengers along one of the busiest routes in Japan at speeds of 500 km/h.

The prototype is planned to get into service as of 2027 en route Tokyo – Nagoya, followed by extension to Osaka in 2045 as part of JR Chuo Shinkansen railway. At this point, the route is served by Shinkansen high-speed trains, running at lower speeds of 270 km/h.

Unlike old models of high-speed trains, L0 Series prototype trains use magnetic levitation (Maglev), which eliminates friction and allows much higher speeds.

The new train is equipped with a locomotive designed to reduce air friction and featuring a stretched “nose” aimed at reducing noise level when traveling through tunnels. The train will comprise a total of 14 cars, each of them carrying 68 passengers, except the last car, which can support only 24 passengers.
Because train’s top speed is 500 kilometers per hour, passengers will travel from Tokyo (Shinagawa Station) to Nagoya in just 40 minutes, and a trip to Osaka will last one hour and seven minutes.

JR Tokai operates the most reliable high-speed trains in the world. The 44-year-records of commercial operation show no injury or fatal accidents. The company operates daily 323 high speed trains in central Japan and the mean delay is just 0.6 minutes. Source: Asahi Shimbun